Door operating knob



Jan. 5, 1932. J. A. KIMBALL- 1,340,235

DOOR OPERATING KNOB Filed Dec. 19, 1930 JokrzAK'nzZaZZ INVENTOR Patented Jan.'5, 1932 JOHN A. KIMBALL, F TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS noon OPERATING KNOB Application filed December 19, 1930. Serial No. "503,589.

' is pivotally supported on the spindle and is provided with means for gripping the spindle sothat the same can be turned with the turning of the knob and which is also provided with other means, spring influenced to normally sustain the knob in gripping or looking engagement with the spindle but movable upon the downward depression of the knob to bring such gripping means out of engagement and to cause the turning of the spindle without the turning of the knob.

.The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection-with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do 5 not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, the knob and other parts being in sec tion.

Figure 2 is a face view of the knob with the outer member or cap removed. Figure 3 is a view substantially similar to Figure -1 but showing the knob moved downwardly on the spindle to turn the said spindle. Figure 4 is a view substantially similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts arranged as o in Figure 3. p

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1. I dlFigure .6 is a perspective view of the spin Figure 7 is a similar view of the two-part hearing between the knob, and spindle.

In general the spindle 1 for operating the latch bolt of the door lock, or the like is of the ordinary construction except for the end or ends thereof attached to the knob or knobs. The spindle 1 has its outer end formed with a reduced cross sectionally squared portion 2, and inward thereof, but in contact therewith, with another and preferably larger squared portion 3. The squared portion 3 is arranged 66 angularly with respect to the outer squared portion 2.

The spindle, for a suitable distance from its squared end portions may be and preferably is round in cross section, as indicated by 70 the numeral 4, and inward of the rounded portion 4 the spindle is grooved to provide a crosssectional-ly round portion 5 and shoulders at the ends of the said round portion.

The knob is broadly indicated by the numoral 6 and comprises an inner or main portion 7 and an outer removable cap portion 8. The squared portion from its inner and reduced end is formed with an opening 9 that communicates with its outer face. The upper and lower walls provided by the opening 9. are spread away from each other and are, therefore, beveled so that the end of the opening communicating with the face of the knob section 7 is of a materially greater width than the inner portion of the said opening. In a like manner the side walls provided by the opening are tapered from their inner to a point adjacent their outer ends, as indicated by the numeral 10, the tapered walls terminating in ribs 11 that afford bearings for the rounded portion 4 of the spindle that is received between the said ribs.

Received in the depression 5 in the spindle there is a ring bearing, the same comprising two semi-cylindrical sections 12, respectively, and the outer faces of these sections are arched or rounded in-cross section, as indicated by the numeral 13. Each of the sections of the bearing 12,is provided with a threaded opento swing downwardly from the pivot bolts 14 on the said spindle. By connecting the knob to the spindle by means of the split collar and screws, and the knob and spindle are in their normal relative positions, turning'the knob will release the latch when the socket 15'is in engagement with the squared portion 3, of the spindle. v

7 Except at its periphery the outer face of the knob section 7 is convex, the curvature of which being struck from the axial plane or the pivots 14, which is true with respect to the bearing ribsll. The outer face of the said section 7 is formed with a socket 15 that comprises a notched member that has its sides extended'al'ong the ribs 11 from the lower wall provided by the'opening 9, and in this socket the squared portion 3 of the spindle is designed to be received. The outer squared portion 2 ofthe spindle is received through a squared opening in one end of a lever 16 and the lever is held on the said'end of the spindle by a' headed bolt17 which is screwed in the spindle.

The lever 16 is in'the nature of flat plate and has on its lower end an ear extension'to which is attachedone end'of a helical spring 18, the second end of the spring being attached to the shank ofa short bolt 19 which isscrewe'd in the outer face of the knob seetion'7. The lever is held from downward swinging through the influence of the'spring 18 by a stop pin 20 which may be in the nature of a bolt thatattaches the hollow cap or outer knob section 8 to the inner knob section 7. A second stop element, also in the nature of a bolt 21 passes through the cap 8 and enters the knob 7 at a point above and outward of the stop 20, the stop 21 being disposed above the lever 16. w 7

Other means ma be provided for securing the cap on'the kno and the edge of the hel low'cap 'is received in the annular peripheral depression in the knob proper, 7.

As the knob'is normally held" in latched relation with the spindle the turning of the knob will imparta' like turning to: the spindle. Because of the attachment of the spindle to the springinfluenced 'plungers of the latch bolt in the lock, the knob and spindle are normally retained inthe positions disclosed by Figures 1,2 and Should aiperson' laden with bundlesor thelikedesire to ;open'the door 'itis' merely necessary that a downward pressure be exerted by his forearm or any other part of his anatomy to cause the knob to be first swung downwardly from the pivots 14: on the spindle 1. This initial downward movement of the knob will bring the socket 15 out of the squared portion 3 of the spindle and a further downward swinging of the knob will bring the stop element 21 against the lever 16, turning the said lever to a downward angular position and causing the lever to turn the spindle 1 and thereby release the latch bolt. When pressure upon the knob is relieved the spring 18 will contract, thereby returning the parts to their initial position to cause the latching engagement between the knob andspindle. 'The return of the springinfluenced latch bolt to. its initial position will likewise return the spindle l'to its normal position. The ribs 11 positively guide the knob in its movement over .the spindle so that the socket or keeper 15 will be positively in a position to receive the squared end 3 of the spindle therein and, therefore, any liability of the parts not properly returning to their initial: or normal .positions is entirely overcome. The lever'16, it maybe well to state, is arched in plan to cor-- respond with the curvature of the pocket provided between the concaved face of the cap and the convex face of the knob, so that the pin or stop element 21 will properly'ride overthe upper edge of the lever when the spindle isoperated by the downward'movement of the knob.

1. Aspindle for a latch bolt anda knob for the spindle, latching means between the knob and'the spindle to permit the knob and spindle turning in unisonand said knob being swingable on the spindle to release the latching means and meansoperated by such swinging of the knob for turning the spindle.

2. A spindle for a latch bolt and a knob swiveled to the spindle', latching means between the knob and the spindle to permit-the knob. and spindle turning in unison and said knob being swingable on the spindle to release the latching means, and means operated by such swinging of the knob'for turning the spindle,'and means for returning the knob to latching engagement with the spindle when pressure on the knob is relieved.

3. A spindle for the latch bolts of door locks and a knob swiveled to the spindle to turn on orlswing in one direction from the H spindle, a catch on the knob to engage with the spindle to causethe knob and spindle-t0 be turned together, spring influenced means for holdingthe'knob latched to the spindle,

and said means operable to turn the spindle lac slotted knob through which the spindle passes and in which the spindle is swiveled to permit the knob turning or swinging in one direction on the spindle, a latch on the knob to engage the spindle to permit of the knob and spindle being turned together, a lever fixed on the spindle, a spring connec tion between the lever and knob, spaced stop elements on the knob at the opposite edges of the lever, one to contact with the lever when the spring influences the knob to latching engagement with the lever and the other to con tact with the lever to swing the same to turn the spindle when the knob is swung on the spindle.

5. A spindle for the latch bolts of locks, a slotted knob through which the spindle passes and to which the spindle is swiveled to per mit the turning or the swinging of the knob in one direction, a latch on the knob to engage the spindle to permit of the knob and spindle being turned in unison, a lever fixed on the spindle, a spring connection between the lever and knob, spaced stop elements on the knob at the opposite edges of the lever, one to contact with the lever when the spring influences the knob to latching engagement with the lever and the other to contact with the lever to swing the same to turn the spindle when the knob is swung on the spindle, and a hollow cap for the knob held thereon by the stop elements.

6. A spindle for the latch bolt of a door lock and a knob for the spindle, said spindle having its outer end provided with stepped angularly arranged square portions, a round ed part extending therefrom and an annular groove inward of the rounded part, a two part bearing ring received in the groove, the knob having an opening therethrough whose upper and lower walls are gradually spaced away from each other and whose side walls are tapered and whose reduced end wall is round and receives the ring bearing therein and which is pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said bearing, a slotted keeper on the outer face thereof to receive the inner squared portion of the spindle therein, a lever removably fixed on the outer squared end of the spindle, a coiled spring connected with the lever and with the outer face of the knob, a hollow cap for the knob, spaced elements securing the cap on the knob disposed away from each other and to the opposite edges of the lever, for the purpose set forth.

7 A spindle for the latch bolt of a door lock and a knob for the spindle, said lmob having an opening therethrough whose top and bottom walls are gradually widened to the outer face of the knob, and whose side walls are tapered to the rear end of the knob and provided, opposite the outer face of the knob with inwardly directed ribs, said spindle received through the opening and bearing against the ribs, a pivoted revoluble connection between the knob and spindle, a socket on the outer face of the knob afi'ording a latch for the spindle to permit of the knob being turned in unison with the spindle,

spring influenced means for normally hold- I ing the knob in latching engagement with the spindle and said means being operable for turning the spindle when the knob is swung angularly on its pivotal connection with the spindle.

8. A spindle for a latch bolt having a knob journaled thereon and swingable in one direction therefrom, means for normally latching the handle to the spindle, and means operated by the swinging of the handle for turning the spindle.

9. A door operating knob, means in the knob for latching the same to the spindle, means for permitting of the release of the latching means and the swinging of the knob on the spindle and means operated by the swinging of the knob on the spindle for turning the spindle.

10. A door operating knob, means in the knob for latching the same to the spindle, means for permitting of the release of the latching means and the swinging of the knob on the spindle and means operated by the swinging of the knob on the spindle for turning the spindle and means also within the knob for returning the knob to its initial latched position.

11. A door operating knob, and means contained in the knob operable on the non-rotation but movement of the knob in one direc- I tion for actuating the latch bolt of the door.

12. A means for operating a turnable member, including a handle having mechanism entirely Within the interior thereof for turning the turnable member with the handle and 

